Scottish Executive

Agriculture

Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive who the members are of the Project Assessment Committee which will assess applications for assistance under the Agricultural Business Development Scheme; what particular qualifications each member holds which led to their selection, and whether any members are on the committee by virtue of their organisation being represented on it ex officio, naming each such organisation.

Ross Finnie: The current members of the Project Assessment Committee (PAC) are:

  


Neil Black 
  

Scottish Tourist Board 
  



Ms Barbara Bremner 
  

Scottish Natural Heritage 
  



John Brown 
  

Principal Agricultural Officer (Highland), Scottish Executive 
  Rural Affairs Department (SERAD) 
  



Frank Gaskell 
  

Highlands and Islands Enterprise 
  



Ms Phyllis Harvey 
  

Orkney Islands Council (representing the Islands’ local 
  authorities) 
  



John Henderson 
  

Assistant Chief Agricultural Officer, SERAD HQ and Chairman 
  Panel 1 (agricultural applications) 
  



Peter Johnstone 
  

Principal Agricultural Officer (Grampian), SERAD 
  



Iain Matheson 
  

Principal Agricultural Officer (Northern & N Isles), 
  SERAD 
  



John Maxwell 
  

Principal Agricultural Officer (Argyll & W Isles), 
  SERAD 
  



Roy McLachlan 
  

Principal Agricultural Officer (Arran & Bute), SERAD 
  



Ms Catriona Maclean 
  

Highland Council (representing the Highlands’ local authorities) 
  



Henry Snedden 
  

SERAD HQ policy branch and Chairman Panel 2 (non-agricultural 
  applications) 
  



  Observers:

  


Rory Dutton 
  

Scottish Crofters Union 
  



Ms Beverley Wilson 
  

National Farmers’ Union of Scotland 
  



(nominee awaited) 
  

Scottish Landowners’ Federation 
  



  Nominations for PAC membership came from the joint public sector/industry team that designed the scheme. The SERAD members reflect the Executive’s overall policy and financial responsibilities for the ABDS, and their knowledge of the agricultural sector in their respective areas. The non-departmental representatives bring expertise and experience on economic and social development, tourism and environmental priorities for the Highlands and Islands – relevant criteria in assessing grant applications. Some of the public organisations concerned may also part-fund some grants. The industry representatives have chosen to be observers rather than full members of the PAC.

  All members of the PAC are there in an ex-officio capacity.

Accidents

Lord James Douglas-Hamilton (Lothians) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how many people were killed by lightning in each of the last 10 years and whether any guidance is issued on this matter.

Iain Gray: Three people were killed by lightning in the last 10 years, one each in 1992, 1995 and 1996. The Scottish Executive has not issued any guidance on this subject.

Accidents

Lord James Douglas-Hamilton (Lothians) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how many people have been killed by chemicals in each of the last 10 years and what category of chemicals was responsible for each death.

Iain Gray: It is not possible to give a precise answer to this question as it is difficult to define which deaths are due to chemicals or, indeed, what should be covered by the term chemicals. The table below summarises some relevant information on deaths from accidental poisoning. It excludes all deaths resulting from poisoning by drugs and medicaments.

  


Selected deaths from accidental poisoning, Scotland, 1990-99 
  



Substance involved 
  

1990 
  

1991 
  

1992 
  

1993 
  

1994 
  

1995 
  

1996 
  

1997 
  

1998 
  

1999 
  



Ethyl or methyl alcohol 
  

0 
  

0 
  

2 
  

0 
  

1 
  

0 
  

0 
  

0 
  

0 
  

0 
  



Cleansing and polishing agents, disinfectants, paints and 
  varnishes 
  

0 
  

2 
  

0 
  

0 
  

1 
  

0 
  

0 
  

0 
  

0 
  

0 
  



Petroleum products, solvents and their vapours 
  

1 
  

1 
  

2 
  

1 
  

0 
  

1 
  

1 
  

1 
  

1 
  

1 
  



Agricultural and horticultural chemical preparations etc. 
  

1 
  

0 
  

0 
  

0 
  

0 
  

0 
  

0 
  

0 
  

0 
  

0 
  



Other and unspecified solid and liquid substances1


4 
  

10 
  

6 
  

3 
  

11 
  

6 
  

2 
  

10 
  

11 
  

13 
  



Gas distributed by pipeline 
  

1 
  

0 
  

0 
  

0 
  

0 
  

0 
  

0 
  

0 
  

2 
  

0 
  



Other utility gas and carbon monoxide 
  

4 
  

15 
  

4 
  

3 
  

1 
  

2 
  

3 
  

2 
  

7 
  

2 
  



Other gases and vapours 
  

2 
  

1 
  

0 
  

0 
  

1 
  

0 
  

0 
  

0 
  

0 
  

1 
  



  Notes:

  1. Virtually all of these cases involve exposure to asbestos and resultant asbestosis or mesothelioma.

Coast Protection

George Lyon (Argyll and Bute) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what funds are available to help communities affected by coastal erosion such as those on Seil Island.

Mr Sam Galbraith: The Scottish Executive has no specific funds to help communities affected by coastal erosion.

  The primary responsibility for the protection of land from erosion by the sea lies with the owners concerned. However, under the Coast Protection Act 1949, local authorities may contribute towards the cost of carrying out any coast protection work which they consider necessary or expedient to protect any land in their areas from erosion and encroachment by the sea.

Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease

Margaret Jamieson (Kilmarnock and Loudoun) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive when will it make an announcement on compensation for victims of variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease.

Susan Deacon: In my statement to the Parliament on 26 October 2000, I said that the UK Government were looking to put in place financial arrangements to benefit those with vCJD and their families. Constructing a compensation scheme that is effective and properly meets the needs of those affected is not an easy task. However, I am pleased to say that the UK Government will be making interim payments of £25,000 when regulations have been put in place to ensure the payments are not taken into account in the calculation of income-related social security benefits and are exempted from the provisions of the Social Security (Recovery of Benefits) Act 1997. Details of the full compensation package are still under consideration.

Higher Education

Mr David Davidson (North-East Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how many Scottish universities had a financial deficit in 1999-2000; how many are currently in deficit, and how many are expected to have a deficit in 2001-02.

Ms Wendy Alexander: In 1999-2000, nine higher education institutions recorded an operating deficit, six of which recorded a historical cost deficit. Finalised accounts are not available for 2000-01 and 2001-02.

Higher Education

Mr David Davidson (North-East Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to address any financial difficulties in the higher education sector.

Ms Wendy Alexander: At almost £660 million, planned funding for 2001-02 is some 8% (5.6% in real terms) above this year’s allocation and our spending plans for higher education. This is a significant investment and demonstrates our commitment to building a learning nation and our belief that a high quality, dynamic and diverse lifelong learning market will help to underpin the developing knowledge economy and secure Scotland’s social, cultural and economic prosperity. By the FY2003-04 we will increase the amount available to SHEFC for distribution to the sector to almost £700 million. This results in an extra £108 million being invested in higher education over the next three financial years.

Improving Regulation in Scotland

George Lyon (Argyll and Bute) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive how many businesses have used the Improving Regulation in Scotland Unit since it was established.

George Lyon (Argyll and Bute) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive how many individual enquiries have been submitted to the Improving Regulation in Scotland Unit.

George Lyon (Argyll and Bute) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether any regulation has been amended or repealed as a result of complaints to the Improving Regulation in Scotland Unit.

George Lyon (Argyll and Bute) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what the 20 regulations are in relation to which the highest number of complaints have been received by the Improving Regulation in Scotland Unit and how many complaints have been received about each of these regulations.

George Lyon (Argyll and Bute) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive how many complaints to the Improving Regulation in Scotland Unit have concerned regulations relating to (a) devolved matters and (b) reserved matters.

George Lyon (Argyll and Bute) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive how it publicises and raises awareness of the Improving Regulation in Scotland Unit.

George Lyon (Argyll and Bute) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive how it intends to evaluate the effectiveness of its Improving Regulation in Scotland initiative.

Ms Wendy Alexander: Since its inception in November 1998, the Improving Regulation in Scotland Unit has had contact with around 160 businesses. Through a series of seminars, correspondence and also its "hotline" and e-mail box, the unit has received over 170 enquiries and complaints to date. Of these, 67 related to reserved matters, 40 to devolved matters and 65 did not refer to specific policy areas but rather to regulatory mechanisms and principles for attention at both Holyrood and Westminster. The comments made to the unit seldom refer to any individual regulation, however the areas which give rise to the greatest number of concerns are that the development of policy should involve more consideration of the impact on business, difficulties with employment regulations and trading standards and their application. Consequently the IRIS Unit has concentrated its efforts on improving regulations and their enforcement by encouraging greater use of the Regulatory Impact Assessment process by policy makers and promoting adoption and application of the Enforcement Concordat by regulators.

  The unit has publicised its activities and service at conferences, seminars and meetings. A publicity "flyer" has been given a wide distribution and the unit also has a website accessible through the Executive website, (www.scotland.gov.uk/who/elld/iris.asp). The IRIS Unit was also featured in the publication The Way Forward: A Framework for Economic Development in Scotland published in June 2000. The unit also continues its dialogue with a wide number of business representative organisations, such as the Federation of Small Businesses. The effectiveness of policies and efforts in this area will be felt by business in changes to the regulatory culture and the unit will continue to work to this end.

Ministerial Correspondence

Mr Alex Salmond (Banff and Buchan) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive when the Minister for Rural Development will respond to my letter of 26 October 2000 on agri-money compensation for the cereal sector.

Ross Finnie: I replied to the member on 6 February.

Ministerial Correspondence

Michael Matheson (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive when the Minister for Health and Community Care will reply to the letter dated 15 December 2000 from Mr R. Wilson of Bonnybridge.

Malcolm Chisholm: Officials replied to Mr Wilson on 29 January 2001.

National Parks

Bruce Crawford (Mid Scotland and Fife) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will commission a comprehensive land use study of the entire area of the proposed Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park.

Mr Sam Galbraith: A range of studies have been, and continue to be, conducted on aspects of land use in order to pave the way for a National Park in Loch Lomond and the Trossachs. Scottish Natural Heritage, for example, have previously commissioned reviews into land use and economic activity in possible National Park areas in Scotland and the Loch Lomond and Trossachs Interim Committee are in the process of preparing a forest and woodland framework, through a steering group chaired by Sir Peter Hutchison. Also, once established we will expect the National Parks Authority to consider land use as part of the overall park plan.

Prison Service

Linda Fabiani (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-12289 by Mr Jim Wallace on 30 January 2001, when the additional work on the Scottish Prison Service Estates Review will be undertaken and whether the resulting information will be published in a way that facilitates informed public debate.

Mr Jim Wallace: The additional work is in hand and, when complete, it will be considered by the Executive before being made readily available in a way that facilitates and informs public debate.

Rail Network

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-8788 by Sarah Boyack on 21 August 2000, whether it was aware at that time that the Scottish Borders Tourist Board report which informed the Borders railway feasibility study’s conclusions on tourism pre-dated the feasibility study by three years and looked only at the effect a train line from Edinburgh to Galashiels could have on tourism and, if not, whether it adheres to its position that a supplementary study looking at the potential impact on tourism of the reopening of the line from Edinburgh to Carlisle is not necessary.

Sarah Boyack: Yes, the Scottish Executive did know that the Scottish Borders Tourist Board report predated the feasibility study, was aware of the report’s remit and believes that a supplementary report is unnecessary.

Rail Network

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-4363 by Sarah Boyack on 15 February 2000, whether it was aware at that time that the Scottish Borders Tourist Board report which informed the Borders railway feasibility study’s conclusions on tourism pre-dated the feasibility study by three years and looked only at the effect a train line from Edinburgh to Galashiels could have on tourism and, if not, whether it adheres to its statement that the feasibility study was the product of a detailed assessment of the economic, social and environmental impacts of reopening part or all of the railway line from Edinburgh to Carlisle.

Sarah Boyack: Yes, the Scottish Executive did know that the Scottish Borders Tourist Board report predated the feasibility study and is content that the feasibility study represents a detailed assessment of the economic, social and environmental impacts of reopening part or all of the railway line from Edinburgh to Carlisle.

Roads

Bruce Crawford (Mid Scotland and Fife) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, with regard to the recent tendering exercise for the trunk road network, whether any consideration was given to the outcome of the Fatal Accident Inquiry relating to The Ord on the A9.

Sarah Boyack: Officials preparing the contract were aware of the tragic accident on the A9 at The Ord and have taken account of this in conducting the tendering exercise.

Roads

Bruce Crawford (Mid Scotland and Fife) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the names are of those on the panel for the recent trunk road network tendering exercise, what connections any panel member currently has, or has had, with any of the parties involved in the bidding process, and what relevant expertise each person brought to the panel.

Sarah Boyack: The trunk road network tendering exercise was overseen by a steering group of officials which reported to me. No member of the steering group has or had an interest in any of the bidders. The steering group brought together skills in administrative, financial, procurement and technical matters related to the contracts.

Roads

Bruce Crawford (Mid Scotland and Fife) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether any information is contained in the tender document for the trunk road network regarding the use and operation of trunk road lighting and traffic control signals.

Sarah Boyack: Information is provided in the tender documents covering the supply of electrical energy and use and operation of trunk road lighting and traffic control signals.

Scottish Transport Group Pension Scheme

Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive exactly how much will be made available for ex-gratia payments to the Scottish Transport Group pension scheme members and when these payments will be made.

Sarah Boyack: The First Minister announced on 18 December that up to £100 million would be available for distribution, subject to the approval of the Scottish Parliament. The Scottish Executive expects to be in a position to make ex-gratia payments in the second half of this year.

Scottish Transport Group Pension Scheme

Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive why it stated on 18 December 2000 that it would pay out up to £100 million in ex-gratia payments to the Scottish Transport Group (STG) pension scheme members when a letter dated 15 May 2000 from the Minister for Transport and the Environment showed the value of the STG pension surplus to be approximately £120 million.

Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, with regard to the decision to make ex-gratia payments to Scottish Transport Group pension members next year, how the figure of around £100 million that is to be made available was determined.

Sarah Boyack: The most recent annual report of the Scottish Transport Group available at 15 May 2000 showed the value of the surplus at 31 March 1999 to be approximately £120 million (net of tax). While there is no legal entitlement for Scottish Transport Group pension scheme members to share in the pension schemes surplus funds, Scottish Ministers have agreed with the Chancellor of the Exchequer that up to £100 million is to be made available for ex-gratia payments in Scotland, so that these payments are broadly equitable with the final settlement to National Bus Company pension scheme members south of the border.

Small Businesses

Bill Butler (Glasgow Anniesland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive when it will announce its better regulation strategy and review of small business rate relief as detailed in Working together for Scotland: A Programme for Government .

Ms Wendy Alexander: The Scottish Executive recognises the importance to business, and in particular small business, of tackling red tape and business rates. We therefore committed ourselves to action in these two areas in Working together for Scotland: A Programme for Government . I am pleased that tomorrow I can announce the details of the Executive’s better regulation strategy. The Minister for Finance and Local Government will also announce a package of measures on rate relief.

  The better regulation strategy demonstrates the Executive’s commitment to improving the regulatory environment and helping Scottish businesses to thrive. New initiatives include a requirement to review regularly all regulations which have a significant impact on business and for which the Executive is responsible, and working in partnership with business organisations to improve business forms. I will also tomorrow publish the details through the Executive’s website.

  We are restricting the non-domestic rate poundage to 47.0p for 2001-02, a reduction in real terms.

  To provide further help for small businesses, we are introducing a 2p discount for business premises with a rateable value of £10,000 or less. That is double the discount for this year.

  Tomorrow we will issue a consultation paper outlining a range of proposals for additional rates relief for small businesses, including farm enterprises and village shops. Copies will be placed in the Parliament’s Information Centre and responses are invited by 18 May.

Social Inclusion Partnerships

Ms Sandra White (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what provision is made for the carry-over of Social Inclusion Partnership funds from one financial year to the next as a result of underspending.

Ms Margaret Curran: The amount allocated annually by the Scottish Executive to Social Inclusion Partnerships (SIPs) has to be spent in the year to which it is allocated. However Scottish Executive Departments can apply to carry forward unspent amounts from one financial year to the next, with success depending on the position across the Executive as a whole, and in 1999-2000 this flexibility was passed on to Social Inclusion Partnerships.

  In 1999-2000, 18 Social Inclusion Partnerships applied to carry forward unspent amounts to the following year. Priority was given to underspends that had arisen because of delays in setting up new partnerships and allocating funds, and to those that had arisen because of slippage in capital projects. The 18 Social Inclusion Partnerships carried forward a total of £1.5 million from 1999-2000 to 2000-01.

  Arrangements for the carry forward of funds which have not been spent in 2000-01 have not yet been finalised, but we will be writing to SIPs shortly to provide further details.

Sport

Irene McGugan (North-East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether Scotland will benefit from the increased funding for sport announced by the Prime Minister on 11 January 2001.

Allan Wilson: Yes. The Prime Minister’s speech on 11 January referred to the UK-wide proposals for the next round of New Opportunities Fund initiatives. These proposals involve a major investment in school and community sport in Scotland. Sam Galbraith also announced in Parliament on 9 November 2000 a substantial increase in funding for sport in Scotland as part of the outcome of the 2000 Spending Review.

Sport

Irene McGugan (North-East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether all schoolchildren in Scotland will be guaranteed at least two hours of sporting activity per week.

Irene McGugan (North-East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what action it will take to ensure that all schoolchildren have access to a minimum of two hours of physical education per week.

Allan Wilson: The desirability of primary schools providing a minimum of two hours of physical education per week was identified in Sport 21 , the national strategy for sport in Scotland, and the Scottish Executive is working towards that.

  sportscotland works closely with education authorities in a number of programmes, targeted at primary and secondary schools, which aim to promote and increase the level and range of sporting and physical activity of school-aged children during and after school hours.

  There are, however, no plans to prescribe as part of the curriculum that schoolchildren should have set levels of sporting activity per week.

Sport

Irene McGugan (North-East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how the remit of school sports co-ordinators in Scottish schools compares to the remit of (a) school sports co-ordinators and (b) the proposed sports assistants in England and Wales.

Allan Wilson: School sports co-ordinators in Scotland and England cover broadly similar remits. Co-ordinators in England work with groups of schools. In Scotland, our objective is to appoint a co-ordinator in every secondary school and we have announced funding to extend the scheme to enable co-ordinators to work with local sports clubs to introduce young people to club sport while still at school. The role and remit of sports assistants is still being developed prior to the pilot being commenced but the intention is that they should complement the work of co-ordinators in schools.

Sport

Mr John Farquhar Munro (Ross, Skye and Inverness West) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive why  sportscotland has turned down the Camanach Association’s development plan proposals.

Mr Sam Galbraith: In the first instance, you may find it helpful to have a statement of the situation with regard to funding for shinty and shinty events.

  Shinty receives considerable funding from sportscotland, nearly £100,000 per annum in cash and kind in recent years.

  In addition to the £15,000 core grant which sportscotland provides to the Camanachd Association each year, the sport of shinty has received £500,000 for youth sport since 1991, which includes the full-time salary of the Youth Sport Development Officer for Shinty and a financial contribution to two local development officers. It is one of only nine sports which have had the benefit of a full-time Youth Sport Development Officer.

  Shinty has also received over £500,000 in lottery capital grants since 1995, has benefited from over £5,000 of "in kind" staff time for the establishment of a national coaching strategy and only last year received a further £15,000 from the lottery junior groups programme. More generally, the sport also benefits from the Sportsmatch Programme and has made 24 applications, 19 of which have been successful securing awards totalling £43,200.

  sportscotland is unable to provide funding for the annual Scotland v Ireland shinty/hurling match. The event is a hybrid of the two sports played in Scotland and Ireland; it is not of major international standard, and shinty has no international federation under the auspices of which recognised international competitions can take place. These factors rule out the Major Events and Talented Athletes Programmes as sources of funding. At the same time, the fact that the match is between two national teams means that it does not qualify for the Sportsmatch Programme, which provides funding for grassroots sporting activity. Shinty is not unique in this respect and national team competitions in sports such as netball and judo are also ineligible for Sportsmatch funding. The Scottish Executive and sportscotland recognise the cultural significance of shinty but sportscotland cannot bend the criteria for funding under its various programmes to treat shinty differently and more favourably than other sports.

  As with other sports, sportscotland staff have put considerable time and effort into helping with the development of shinty and will continue to do so. Before it can increase its investment in any sport, sportscotland needs to be satisfied that the sport has a clear and realistic plan for development and an organisational structure which can implement that plan. After careful consideration, sportscotland concluded that the Camanachd Association would face difficulty in implementing its development plan. sportscotland has, however, offered to fund an independent review of the Camanachd Association, the aim of which would be to ensure the long-term success of the sport and viability of the association itself.

  The Executive hopes that the Camanachd Association accepts sportscotland’s offer of an independent review as this has proved successful in the case of other sports such as athletics, swimming and curling.

Sport

Irene McGugan (North-East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how it will promote and maintain a sporting culture in schools.

Allan Wilson: Programmes such as TOPS, Active Primary Schools and School Sport Co-ordinators which are funded through  sportscotland and the Lottery Sports Fund are successfully promoting sport in schools. In addition, we have now just completed consultation on proposals for the next round of New Opportunities Fund initiatives which will include a significant investment in school sport.

Sport

Irene McGugan (North-East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will include extra-curricular sport within the continuous professional development programme for teachers.

Mr Jack McConnell: The agreement following the McCrone Report into teachers’ terms and conditions of service will, if accepted, introduce a framework for the continuing professional development of teachers. The framework would ensure that continuing professional development reflects individual need and school, local and national priorities. It would incorporate existing CPD provision and widen the range of opportunities available to teachers.

  The framework would not be prescriptive but sufficiently flexible to meet the specific training needs of individual teachers and schools, including training relating to sport and physical activity where required.

Sport

Irene McGugan (North-East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive who will conduct a review of  sportscotland in the context of the overall review of non-departmental public bodies and who will be consulted on any review.

Allan Wilson: Notwithstanding and without prejudice to the wider review of NDPBs announced by the Minister of Finance on 18 January,  sportscotland are reviewing aspects of their organisation and operations. The appointment of consultants to assist them in that process will be a matter for  sportscotland. The Executive will ensure that the views of  sportscotland’s customers and partner organisations will be sought during this process.

Sport

Irene McGugan (North-East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will fund a full-time officer for every local sports council.

Allan Wilson: Local sports councils are part of the local delivery of sport in Scotland and their funding is a matter for individual local authorities.  sportscotland provides grant (currently £21,000 per annum) and other support to the Scottish Association of Local Sports Councils.

Sport

Irene McGugan (North-East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will establish a national network of sports colleges and, if so, when.

Allan Wilson: We have no plans to do so.

Sport

Irene McGugan (North-East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will fund the refurbishment of community sports facilities.

Allan Wilson: The provision of adequate leisure facilities, including sports facilities, is a matter for individual local authorities in accordance with the Local Government and Planning (Scotland) Act 1982.

  sportscotland’s strategic plan for the distribution of lottery monies, Levelling the Playing Field, includes a Sports Facilities Programme which seeks to convert, adapt or increase the accessibility of existing sports facilities to their communities. The facilities invested in are in schools or in clubs near schools. sportscotland has made awards totalling £9.6 million under this programme contributing to a total investment in this area of almost £42 million.

Sport

Irene McGugan (North-East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive why it will not finance a bid for the 2008 European football championships on a similar basis to its support for the 2009 Ryder Cup bid.

Allan Wilson: The bidding process devised by the Ryder Cup Committee for the 2009 event involves countries or regions of countries making bids to stage the event. That is why the Scottish Executive has led the bid to bring the event to Scotland. The bidding for the European Nations Football Championship, like most other major sporting events, is the responsibility of the national governing body which in the case of football in Scotland is the Scottish Football Association. We are already assisting the SFA with the feasibility studies it is carrying out to inform a decision on whether it should bid for the 2008 Championships.

Sport

Irene McGugan (North-East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether, if the bid for the 2009 Ryder Cup is successful, it will consider funding a bid for the 2008 European football championships on a similar basis.

Allan Wilson: I refer the member to the answer I have given to her question S1W-12949. The key factors involved in deciding whether to assist the SFA in a bid for the 2008 Championship are the realistic prospects of a bid by the SFA being successful, Scotland’s capacity to stage an event of this magnitude and the prospective economic and other benefits. There is no link with our Ryder Cup 2009 bid.

Sport

Irene McGugan (North-East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the various initiatives included in the bid for the 2009 Ryder Cup will go ahead if the bid is unsuccessful.

Allan Wilson: Many of the initiatives referred to in our bid are already being implemented. Others are contingent to a greater or lesser extent on our bid being successful, but the Scottish Executive and its public sector partners are strongly committed to the development of golf and golf tourism.

Sport

Irene McGugan (North-East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how it will ensure fair public access to a percentage of the ticket allocation should the bid for the 2009 Ryder Cup be successful.

Allan Wilson: The Scottish Executive will not be responsible for staging the Ryder Cup but we would wish to see the general public have the opportunity to attend all or part of the event.

Sport

Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what steps have been taken to make information available to disabled people about opportunities to participate in sport and whether there is any central bank of such information.

Allan Wilson: In the last two years, Scottish Disability Sport (SDS), in partnership with  sportscotland, has developed a number of steps to make information on sport and recreation opportunities available to those wishing to participate in sport.

  These include the new SDS website, www.scottishdisabilitysport.com, which was officially launched during 2000; the SDS newsletter The Changing Times, which is published three times a year; SDS sport specific leaflets covering the sports of athletics, archery, boccia, cycling, swimming, table tennis, football and bowls; an A5 flyer promoting the work of SDS; a comprehensive resource pack, which acts as a one stop shop for disability sport issues, with funding through the Ready Willing and Able for Sport programme; SDS has an information stand and undertakes practical sessions as part of the annual Scottish Mobility Roadshow held at the SECC, Glasgow; and SDS is promoted at a local level throughout Scotland through its local branch structure.

  The SDS Marketing & Communications Convenor is a voluntary post within the governing body with the responsibility of co-ordinating the above initiatives in conjunction with the Chairman and the sportscotland Co-ordinator.

Sport

Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Disability Access to Outdoor Recreation Group is accountable to sportscotland or any other Scottish public body; if so, who the members of the group are and whether the minutes of the group’s meetings, in particular those of the meeting on 12 December 2000, will be made available in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre.

Allan Wilson: The Mountain Recreation Group is a working group established by Scottish Disability Sport (SDS) and is accountable to SDS. Group meetings are chaired by the SDS Mountain Recreation Co-ordinator and attended by individuals from a wide variety of backgrounds with an interest in this area of work, including representatives from  sportscotland. The dissemination of the group’s minutes of meetings is a matter for SDS.